Some bags are more than just accessories; they’re travel companions, memory keepers, and tiny pieces of art. While working a live event at Nordstrom Houston Galleria this past Saturday, I met a traveler who had just purchased her classic Longchamp Le Pliage Small Top-Handle Bag for an upcoming trip to Paris. She told me she and her boyfriend had been talking about marriage, and she hoped this trip would be the one; the proposal she’d been dreaming of! Eeek!

She wanted her new bag to be special, too; something that would travel through those memories with her. Coated leather, like the flap on her Longchamp, can be one of the trickiest materials to work with. It resists heat, doesn’t absorb paint easily, and can bubble if overworked. But with patience, precision, and the right technique, it can be transformed into a stunning, durable piece of art.

The key was slowly melting away the glossy coating while carefully wiping my burner tip clean on a wire brush to prevent buildup. The coating behaves almost like wax; too much heat and it smears outside the engraving lines. With a steady hand, it revealed a perfect groove for the gold paint to settle into. The result was simple and elegant, a monogram that gleamed softly in the light, ready to travel the world beside her and perhaps become a silent witness to her love story in The City of Love.

Every piece I personalize carries a story; a moment in time captured in texture, color, and care. Whether it’s a travel tote bound for a Parisian proposal, a pair of well-worn boots ready for a second life, or a keepsake meant to mark a milestone, I love the way simple materials can become deeply personal art. That’s what drives my work: connection, craftsmanship, and meaning that lasts far beyond the event.

If you have a leather piece that’s special to you; a bag, wallet, or pair of boots; and want to make it uniquely yours, reach out! I love collaborating with people who see meaning in the details; together, we can turn an everyday object into a piece of someone’s story.